Tag Archives: Digital driving licence

Britain, Government, Society, Transport

Plastic and paper driving licences could be phased out

TRANSPORT

DIGITAL driving licences could be introduced from 2022 – raising the prospect that traditional physical documents could be phased out.

A trial will involve learners’ provisional licences being made available in electronic form, including through an app.

It has been revealed by the UK Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, who disclosed that it was part of post-Brexit plans to make transport “fairer, greener and more efficient”.

If the trial is successful, it is understood full driving licences could also be digitised.

The move is part of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s strategic plan for 2021–2024, meaning digital licences may not be available until 2024. Although the DVLA said plastic cards would continue to be available, it has raised fears officials will “switch the whole thing digital”. The trial start date has not yet been decided.

Motoring groups have said this would be disastrous for older drivers without internet access or who struggle online. AA president Edmund King said: “We envisage that many, particularly older drivers, will want to stick to paper or card driving licences as they don’t all have mobile phones.

“Digital driving may suit many, but it should sit alongside the traditional driving licences for some time to come.”

A spokesperson for the charity RAC Foundation, said: “The risk is that the more personal data we store on our phones, the more tempting a target they become for thieves and hackers.”

The Department of Transport said development of digital licences was prevented before Brexit due to prohibitions under EU law.

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Britain, Government, Society, Technology

DVLA confirms development of electronic driving licence

DIGITAL DRIVING LICENCE

phone-driving-licence

                                                 Digital driving licences will soon become a feature on smart phones.

Mobile phones and driving make an awkward combination – it is illegal to use a phone while driving – but, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) is planning to bring the two closer together with the introduction of digital driving licences.

It’s thought digital licences would be stored in phones’ virtual ‘wallets’, just as credit and debit cards can already be saved. When asked to present their driving licence by a police officer or official, a quick finger or thumbprint would release the licence to the phone’s display.

Oliver Morley, the DVLA’s CEO, said the organisation was making “good progress” with the prototype digital licence back in December 2016, while in March 2017 he confirmed the idea was “included in the government digital strategy.” When asked on social media whether there was a timeframe for the introduction of digital licences, Mr Morley said there was, but he wouldn’t be drawn on precisely when this would be.

Security will be a key priority for the digital licence, but given the development and success Apple and Android Pay have enjoyed, it’s thought some of the DVLA’s work has already been done for it. A service analyst and mobile device expert for Auto Express, said: “Security has taken a significant step forward to support digital payments on phones, so the framework is in place for other secure applications, such as a digital driving licence.”

Even with established and rigorous security paradigms in place, however, there will still be people who don’t like the idea of storing their driving licence on their phone, as well as those who don’t even own a smartphone capable of doing so. For those individuals, reassurance will be found in the fact that when it arrives, the digital driving licence will act as an “add-on.”

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